But he returned, at 11.50pm on Wednesday night, under cover of darkness.

Using keys that he had kept after standing down, he entered the manager’s office and ripped down photographs of his successful 21-month spell as boss.

League One promotion hopefuls Town have now been forced to change the locks.

Di Canio was caught in the act on CCTV entering the office and removing the mementos.

Security at the club discovered Di Canio and Swindon are considering further action.

It is an early headache for the club’s new owners after a takeover this week to safeguard Swindon’s future.

There had been hopes of persuading Di Canio to return to the manager’s post but they look to have been dashed by this latest row.

The eccentric Di Canio announced he would leave the County Ground on Monday evening after falling out with the board over the sale of star winger Matt Ritchie.

He cited a “number of broken promises made by the club”.

Less than 24 hours later, Swindon won 3-1 at Tranmere under assistant Fabrizio Piccareta to go top of the table, but he also resigned at full time, along with goalkeeping coach Domenico Doardo, fitness coach Claudio Donatelli and first-team masseur Giulio Viscardi.

Senior pros Tommy Miller and Darren Ward have been put in temporary charge.

But Phil Brown and Mike Newell are among the interested candidates in the vacancy.